Need Advise Please.

[Toledodave]

I have a Tri-6 with megapirate 2.9.1 on a Multiwii Pro.  Im also about to launch my Talon Tri with Megapirate 3.0.1 on  Whitespy Pro2 board.
  My question is...Naza. Is it worth the investment? Whos sketch runs on them and does MP work with it and im noticing a couple different versions. What do I want for a top notch electronics?  Im not sure how much faith I should put into the multiwii boards.  Also....I would like to get some kind of RSSI going too.
   What do you all suggest?

[Hands0n]

Naza is a closed ecosystem, it is all DJI';s and DJI';s alone. So you pretty much get what it says on the tin.  And none of that is a bad thing.  I fly both Naza and APM on similarly quads - each have their own challenges, features and capabilities.  I';m a bit of a fiddler so APM does well for me. Naza is great for my FPV aspirations as it takes a lot of control for me, allows me to focus on what I';m trying to FPV.  But again, not that it can';t be used more energetically.

I used MultiWii software and boards a while back and really liked them. The new Naze32 board is a 32-bit evolution of the OS (Baseflight) and brings in 2014 components to make an exciting board. But it is, I think, a fiddlers paradise, plug and play it is not.

MegaPirateNG is coming to the end of its practical life in its current build state.  There is an "Add-Ons" version at 2.9 that has the Sonar code removed to give back some processing power. But the latest versions of MPNG 3.x seem to be causing people all manner of trouble on Crius AIOP boards, not sure if same applies to MultiWii boards but I can';t see why it wouldn';t.

Suggest? If you like to work on the boards then APM and moreso Pixhawk is definitely worth a look. They';re getting easier to set up, but are amazingly capable and complex.   Otherwise, if you want as near plug n play as you can get then Naza M2 would see you well, not sure if you';ll get RSSI out of it ... others on here will know the FC better.

[Toledodave]

Handson, thanx for the reply. Your awesome.  I dont mind tinkering but I have to admit I am not code junkie. I have good common sence when playing with code settings but that about the extent of it.  I would like to build a very solid stable and informational (rssi for distance ) setup. I havnt been into the hobby long enough to make a descision like this. I would love to see my distance in my goggles. I have the FPV bug and also going to get into antenna tracking for range this summer I hope. I just dont know enough about it yet.

[Hands0n]

Cooo, ta ::)

For distance work you';ve got to keep an eye on what @mutley is doing on here. He';s got the golden crown for pushing out quite incredible distance, and he does the tracker thing.

Re RSSI - There was a discussion on this forum last Summer that petered out in July http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=3527.0  Maybe someone did it in the end?

I use Immersonic ezOSD with my Naza M Lite, it really was plug and play. Doesn';t rely upon the flight controller.  I observe in the manual tht ezOSD is RSSI capable, assuming your RX supports it or you';re happy to go inside it
http://www.immersionrc.com/downloads/manuals/EzOSDProManual.pdf

HTH

[Toledodave]

Thats great info..thankyou. so am I understanding right?.....rssi comes from the Rx?

[Hands0n]

Thats great info..thankyou. so am I understanding right?.....rssi comes from the Rx?

Yes that is the case, it has to be as the RX is the only thing that handles the RF power.  Some FCs pick this up from the RX (assuming the RX gives it out) and will blend the info into the telemetry data stream.

For example, my new X8R FrSky RX (for Taranis) has specific RSSI pinout that may be plugged into pins A0 on the APM 2.5 which will then include the RSSI data in its MavLink telemetry feed to a compatible OSD such as the minimOSD.

[Toledodave]

Ok great...that makes sense.   I am running Apache OSD. It has Rssi ability too. I just dont know what I need to be honest to take advantage of it. Just a Rx and run ditectly to osd? Or is it common to run it through mavlink?  I use mavlink for 3dr telemetry also. I currently am using 9ch orange tx and rx on my tri6 and Ar7200 spectrum on my tri. Radio is 9xr.  Which as I understand the only thing I have at the moment to contribute to rssi that I know of is the OSD lol

[Hands0n]

If ApacheOSD supports RSSI input then all you need is the output from the RX wired to the OSD';s input.  I don';t know that OSD at all but expect that there';ll be info and advice on it.  Not heard of it before or mentioned on here ... so don';t know if any of this forum';s members have experience of it.

[Toledodave]

Handson...gotcha..thankyou very much. Now I just need to decide on a new RX then :) 

[Toledodave]

Handson...how does this look?

The X8R 16ch Receiver, SBUS, Smart Port - Amplified PCB Antenna
http://www.getfpv.com/frsky-d8r-xp-2-4ghz-receiver-w-telemetry.html Would I benefit from this and do I need a Tx to match? I dont know if this is dsm2 or not.

[Hands0n]

That RX is FrSky, uses ACCST,  so is not DSM2 compatible.  You would need to acquire a FrSky TX module or full TX to be compatible with that particular RX.

Are you using Spektrum TX/RX?  If so you may be able to make use of a DORA device.  I did a bit of a Google to see what was "naturally" available for Spektrum RC gear.  I found this seller on eBay - if you scroll down into the main body of the advert there is an article with links that explain what is going on.

[Toledodave]

Ive got a Turnigy 9xr with 2.4  9ch Orange tx.   I dont mind finding a new tx, if thats all I need.

I dont see a link in your post either :/

[barneyg]

If you';ve got a 9xr then you can just get the appropriate tx module to go with the RX you linked

[Hands0n]

If you';ve got a 9xr then you can just get the appropriate tx module to go with the RX you linked

What he said ::)    The ACCST is very powerful and gets good reviews. Not heard a bad word about it. Lots of choice of RX when going FrSky.

[Toledodave]

Awesome guys..thank you very much for your info. Gonna look for them now :)

[flybywire]

Hey fella!  You may want to look at the excellent Taranis Tx, I think it';s a step up from the 9x, built on similar lines, but a better build.  If you need solid range, you ca always do what I and a good few others have done & purchase an EzUHF module, which is a new addition to the Immersion range.  Either way,
I don';t know what laws are like regarding frequencies in the states, but if it';s allowed, you may want to look at 900 mhz for fpv as it has about the best penetration properties of all the fpv frequencies. 

You asked about DJI stuff, it';s what I use for all my multi';s, it';s plug and play, but i would reccomend the Naza M v2, as opposed to the ';Lite'; version, so you can add functions at a later date, like bluetooth, osd waypoints and of course connection to the superb H3-2D gimbal, which is a doddle to set up, and guarantees you super steady footage!

As Danny (Hands0n) pointed out, if you love tinkering and tweaking, probably better off with an open source system, like the promising Naze.

[Toledodave]

Flybywire...great info..thankyou very much. I think thats exactly what I will do.  I am going for range and also looking into trackers atm.  I dont know of any mhz regulations but going to double check. 
  I dont have much complaints about the 9XR other then the sticks and gimbals feel cheap compared to my old school Futaba radios. But I will work on a new radio after I get my tx and rx sorted I thing. Are the Tanaris radios JR Modulated too?
  So now im going to hunt for the ezuhf 900mhz with telemetry I hope. 

[Toledodave]

Ok now im confused again lol

The accst seams like its logical. I notice accst rxs but not much mention of accst tx. Does all of the frsky telemtry txs support accst?
  also as for the Ezuhf, do they support telemetry?

Edited:   ok so im going to put the 2.4 frsky tx and rx telemtry into my 9xr. Then I will pick up a Tanaris with Ezuhf 900mhz and set up my antenna tracker on the 900 since thats my range setup. Hows that sound to you guys?

[BadgerG]

I have a Tri-6 with megapirate 2.9.1 on a Multiwii Pro.  Im also about to launch my Talon Tri with Megapirate 3.0.1 on  Whitespy Pro2 board.
  My question is...Naza. Is it worth the investment? Whos sketch runs on them and does MP work with it and im noticing a couple different versions. What do I want for a top notch electronics?  Im not sure how much faith I should put into the multiwii boards.  Also....I would like to get some kind of RSSI going too.
   What do you all suggest?

Toledodave, I am a bit of a newbie, but what I do know is stay away from MP 3.0.1 for now. Caused 3 speed controllers to fry. MP 2.91 seemed to fly well, but I had issue with GPS working at all, and there have been reports of GPS problems. MP 2.8 is the most stable but doesn';t use the Baro, but GPS locks in my house. Still waiting on replacement speed controllers so I haven';t flown MP 2.8 yet, but from reports it fly';s good. I have a DJI F450 clone with Crius AIOP v 1.1 FC, 10" props, Turnigy 2215j 900KV motors, M200 Crab Leg Landing Gear.

[Toledodave]

Badger.....I replyed on your other post regiarding your troubles.   I am also new to the hobbie as of 1.5 yrs ago. 
  You are the only person I have read about 3.0.1 causing escs to burn up. I did note also that you can not calibrate your escs through your FC. That can and will give you problems due to trying to set limits through ( lets call it filters) your FC. Stock Escs send signals based on averages and not actuall. Therefore people in the hobby tend to reflash or order already flashed SimonK Escs so yhey dont have those averages for more crisp responding of the escs and not based off averages. So with that being said as you try to calibrate through your FC you wont get accurate min/max throttle settings that are equal across all escs if FC wasnt sending a clean and clear signal. Wich would result in different speeds. The only time I burnt up escs was because I failed to calibrate correctly and/or I had wrong firmware flashed.
   But I have not heard of anyone else burning up escs because of a Sketch. Im not sure its possible.  The only information going from FC to the Esc is PPM signals. If the escs fail it more then likely is from bad calibration or firmware. The sketch cant do it I dont believe. A bad sketch mean it wont fly and should not burn anything up.
   My conclusion would be to make sure you calibrate them through the RX and only through the RX.

[flybywire]

Badger, you may want to take a look at what juz uses, in his nice website:
http://juzfpv.com/equipment.php

He has bags of fpv/long range experience, he pops up on forums answering questions now and again, which are always useful to read.

As for telemetry, what are you looking for?  the ezosd will give telemetry including rssi from the UHF 8 channel diversity Rx.  You then use the Immersion UHF module in the back of a Taranis Tx, which will also take Spektrum/JR modules if necessary, which does seem to me the route with the most options at the end of the day, as opposed to say one proprietary solution, i.e Spektrum/Futaba etc.

[Toledodave]

Handson/Flybywire.....I did order a combo fysky 2.4 combo with telemtry. I will also be venturing into the ezuhf 900s soon also along with the tracker. So now I can at least still fly while tinkering with new radios and tracker. Not having a clue about frequencies has made this challenging but rewarding thanks to you two. Thankyou both for your advise.

[Toledodave]

Flyby....yes and I agree with you. But my fiance/financial advisor says I will get by with frsky at the moment. She was very clear with her selective words very soon after I gave her my quote on the Ezuhf investment lol.  Its not ruled out by all means just not going to happen for few weeks. Been buying testing equipment and new bench and was reminded of my recent purchases. Lol.

But indeed I want long range telemetry/rssi/fpv and tx n rx. Dont we all :)

[BadgerG]

Badger.....I replyed on your other post regiarding your troubles.   I am also new to the hobbie as of 1.5 yrs ago. 
  You are the only person I have read about 3.0.1 causing escs to burn up. I did note also that you can not calibrate your escs through your FC. That can and will give you problems due to trying to set limits through ( lets call it filters) your FC. Stock Escs send signals based on averages and not actuall. Therefore people in the hobby tend to reflash or order already flashed SimonK Escs so yhey dont have those averages for more crisp responding of the escs and not based off averages. So with that being said as you try to calibrate through your FC you wont get accurate min/max throttle settings that are equal across all escs if FC wasnt sending a clean and clear signal. Wich would result in different speeds. The only time I burnt up escs was because I failed to calibrate correctly and/or I had wrong firmware flashed.
   But I have not heard of anyone else burning up escs because of a Sketch. Im not sure its possible.  The only information going from FC to the Esc is PPM signals. If the escs fail it more then likely is from bad calibration or firmware. The sketch cant do it I dont believe. A bad sketch mean it wont fly and should not burn anything up.
   My conclusion would be to make sure you calibrate them through the RX and only through the RX.

Toledodave,

Thanks for the reply. From now on I will only calibrate using the RX. When the ESC burn';t I had just done or tried to do a calibration using the FC with MP NG 3.01 R4, I don';t remember which. Now I did have an issue with MP NG 2.91 R300 where the ESC';s wouldn';t initialize properly with the Bluetooth module plugged in. If I unplugged the BT module, the ESC';s would initialize normally. So that was the reason I had uploaded MP NG 3.01 r4 in the firat place. I have not found a reason for the BT module issue. I just made sure it wasn';t plugged in when I plugged in the battery and all ws good. But I ws concerned about plugging it in with power going to the FC. I probably shouldn';t have blamed MP NG 3.01 R4 for the issue with the burning ESC';s, but the issue happen the first or second time I powered up with it, so it got the blame.

MP NG 2.91 R300, other than the BT issue has worked very well with several successful flights. Even with default PID settings it flew pretty good, with minimal oscilations. Reducing some P settings got it flying very good. I have since had issue with GPS on MP NG 2.91 R300 so I dropped back to version 2.8 and are currently awaiting new SimionK flashed ESC';s. I will keep you informed of my progress with the new ESC';s.

Thanks again.

Badger

[Toledodave]

Good deal. Sounds like you have it sorted out now. I do hear people calibrating with a 4 in 1 connector but they are still only going threw the Rx.  As far as the blue tooth goes....does it work when its plugged in? Upon thinking about it more....try and monitor your voltage as you try with and without to initialize your escs. Due to the boards small tolerance window 3v-6v and reading of all the recent voltage filter failures maybe the BT is too much. You may need a Bec to power it and reduce some of the FCs load from the filters.   Just an idea. Oh and where are you connecting the BT to?

[flybywire]

Handson/Flybywire.....I did order a combo fysky 2.4 combo with telemtry. I will also be venturing into the ezuhf 900s soon also along with the tracker. So now I can at least still fly while tinkering with new radios and tracker. Not having a clue about frequencies has made this challenging but rewarding thanks to you two. Thankyou both for your advise.

Dave, I found this, I think it';s radio freq';s allocation for the States, maybe of use?  I haven';t had time to look at it myself yet, the print is a little small, needs some magnification for my ageing eyes!

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/2003-allochrt.pdf

[flybywire]

Flyby....yes and I agree with you. But my fiance/financial advisor says I will get by with frsky at the moment. She was very clear with her selective words very soon after I gave her my quote on the Ezuhf investment lol.  Its not ruled out by all means just not going to happen for few weeks. Been buying testing equipment and new bench and was reminded of my recent purchases. Lol.

But indeed I want long range telemetry/rssi/fpv and tx n rx. Dont we all :)

You told you wife?? Are u crazy? 

[Toledodave]

You told you wife?? Are u crazy? 

Haha. I had to tell her something, even the mail man was leaving notes as he was strategically fitting my mail in the box every other day. Her and I work together at same place and ride to work together so I cant get to the mailbox before her lol. 
 

[Toledodave]

Dave, I found this, I think it';s radio freq';s allocation for the States, maybe of use?  I haven';t had time to look at it myself yet, the print is a little small, needs some magnification for my ageing eyes!

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/2003-allochrt.pdf

Thankyou very much. Im sending that material to my father whom doesnt know it yet but hes going to be building my tracker for me lol.
  He is a very very serious HAM radio enthusiasts and retired president of local Ham radio club. He has forgot more about antennas then I will ever learn. Thats the one hobbie I didnt learn from him. Never had any interest. He flys Rc Planes and I never did it with him either.  I built an Eagle 43 (balsa) when I was 12 and never flew. Too afraid to crash after what I went through to build it lol.

[Toledodave]

Ok so my new Frsky Tx and Rx have arived. I have learned the Rx (D8R-II Plus) is required to be flashed with D8R -XP Firmware in order to provide RSSI and CPPM. Which I have reflashed successfully but not knowing much about CPPM I think im in trouble lol.  So back to the crash course training in hopes to learn how to set up the CPPM on my 9XR and RX. I havnt gotten to the point of rssi and where I want it to go. I dont think the radio is prepared for such info. Currently im running 3DR telemetry and not any knowledge other then 3DR.